Match Preview/Result: Villarreal 1-1 Almeria
Posted by maddi in Javi Venta, Marcos Gullón, Match Previews, ResultsI guess “first thing this morning” didn’t exactly play out as planned….
After last week’s tremendous draw at the Camp Nou, Villarreal should have been able to carry its momentum into the midweek scrum with lowly Celta Vigo. Unfortunately, they couldn’t keep the good form going, and after a well-played 40+ minutes, gave up the lead and then drowned in their own mediocrity.
Nonetheless, Villarreal are riding their longest unbeaten streak of the La Liga season, four matches (Getafe, Atletico, Racing, Barcelona). This is a team against whom they should be able to continue that streak.
Almeria’s table-standing has generally been following a downward slope since the beginning of the year, and comes into the match three short points away from the drop zone, and have to feel like they are facing a season-long struggle. They managed a home 1-0 win over bottom-feeders (and Villarreal-beaters) Xerez last week, but in the five previous matches, had lost four.
Almeria have managed sixteen goals on the season. Notably, they tend to score during three particular periods of time during their games. Three of their goals have been scored between 30 and 45 minutes, three more between 45 and 60, and six have come in the final 15 minutes of the matches. In what should be a warning note for Villarreal, of the 20 Villarreal have conceded in La Liga this term, 9 have come between the 30th and 60th minutes of their matches. That could be the most dangerous period of the match for the Yellows.
This is a necessary three points for Villarreal. They are on a bit of an island at the moment in ninth place. While they are only one point ahead of a quickly retreating Sporting club, they are four behind Bilbao for 8th, and five ahead of the enigma that is Atletico Madrid. So although these three points cannot shoot them up the table in the immediate, it could put them in good position to take over the places of Bilbao, Getafe, and Deportivo.
Villarreal are only bringing four defenders into today’s squad, which is pretty amazing at this level. They will have Eguren and Bruno who could slide in if there was an emergency, but Javi Venta will be watching from the stands while Angel is the only available right back.
The midfield, though, will be deep, with the addition of Marcos Gullón from the B team. Could this be a suggestion of where Valverde is planning on going player-personnel-wise?
This is a very winnable, and perhaps must-win match. Home matches are vital if you are aiming at Europe, especially against the bottom-of-the-barrel teams in the league. This should be at minimum a 2-0 win. ENDAVANT!
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My previous comment was censured, so I’ll try again.
The match is being shown live in Spain on terresterial TV (Channel 6 and RTVV Canal 9) rather than Gol TV or Canal+ so it’s unlikely to be broadcast on US TV.
The attendance for this match is likely to suffer for the fact that the match is on TV and the weather today is very cold and windy,could be close to freezing by the time the match kicks off at 10:00pm (CET).
Villarreal team likely to show two changes from the eleven that played at Barcelona. Angel will play instead of Javi Venta and expect Cazorla to replace Fuster. Diego López;
Ängel, Godín,Marcano, Capdevila;
Cani,Senna, Bruno, Cazorla;
Nilmar Rossi.
You’ve not mentioned that Almeria now have a new manager and who won first time out against Xerez. Everthing points to a Villarreal win but Almeria have made things difficult in their two previous visits.
STARTING XI:
DIEGO LÓPEZ; ÁNGEL, GODÍN, MARCANO, CAPDEVILA; SENNA, BRUNO; CAZORLA, PIRES; ROSSI Y NILMAR
Really is a must win game, pity I’ll miss it because I’m just heading out the door now! Hopefully I’ll catch a little bit of the second half
It’s in greek, but this is an excellent feed/
quite a few empty seats in the stands today.
Never mind…that stream has now switched to something random. More are available at rojadirecta.com, including futbolarg, which seems decent.
In my experience, people in Vila-real do not like the cold very much!
Got news for ya, maddi. People here in Oklahoma don’t care for the cold very much either LOL!
http://www.atdhe.net/11540/watch-villarreal-vs-almeria
^^excellent video quality, no idea what language that is.
Great defending by Godin and good hustle for the boys to get back on that counter by Almeria.
40′ Goal Nilmar! He has a goal, is going to have a baby, and loves his wife!
gooooooooooooolllllllll Nilmar!
1-0. Brilliant long ball into the box from Santi and Nilmar heads it in from close range.
Maddi, you mean Nilmar’s wife is expecting, too? I know Santi’s is due soon, I didn’t know if the ball under the shirt celebration was for Santi or Nilmar!
45′ Angel looks hurt. And we don’t have a backup rightback. This could be trouble. Valverde’s decision may come back to haunt him.
That was just a guess from the display and his holding up an “L” with his fingers…
So, is Javi Venta injured or just being rested? If needed, Marcano can play LB, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Capdevila play RB.
62 min: 1-0….we made it past that 30-60 min point. I’m still not comfortable with this lead por la minima.
Penalty given to Almeria against Godin in 67′
Sorry, make that Marcano
1-1: Almeria scored on a PK.
67′ 1-1.
68′ Llorente on for Nilmar, Cani in for Pires
Let’s go, Villarreal. 3 points today is what we need.
Everything seems a bit disjointed. We might not be able to find the winner here.
Disjointed is a good way to describe it, maddi.
81′ Fuster on for Cazorla. Not sure where he wants Fuster to play in this lineup.
Fuster in for Cazorla.
That might be it. Second yellow for Marcano, and he is out. Not what we needed. Kiko, get ready for some midweek action.
Marcano sent off for a second yellow. Took the ref a while to figure that one out.
Bruno is in central defense
seems to be quite a few stray elbows flying from Almeria today.
someone forget to tell Marcano , he’s only allowed to make 1 stupid move/foul/pass per game…
midfield DIDN’T TAKE CONTROL OF game over today… Bruno and Pires were quite…
Not much created today….
Valverde is NOt the right Mgr for this team……………………………………
FT:1-1. A little sick here.
Lost 2 points….
The worst part is, I can’t even say we deserved to win but had bad luck. We misplaced way too many passes today, made needless fouls, and failed to keep possession.
Pressure no Substance football……. does nothing to break teams when the park 9 players are parked in the back
Liga is not Greek Super Liga………cheapness costing Villarreal…………
………….Villarreal MGMT could have hired better…………………… \
I guess they no longer inspires to be CL…………
Oh well………………….
AND THAT’a FACT !
sorry….to be negative…but that’s how see it…
Trixie says:
January 9, 2010 at 5:53 pm
The worst part is, I can’t even say we deserved to win but had bad luck. We misplaced way too many passes today, made needless fouls, and failed to keep possession.
That’s not what Valverde is all about…….he all about Pressure / no possesion / quick passes football…….with players in hand it’s doesn’t work….
I have seen Greek Super Liga games……………….and last thing Villarreal needed w/players in hand was Valverde style of football..
have nice day……… y’all ………. :)
Turns out that I missed the game. Did we deserve a win? We don’t get snow so often where I live so I was out making the most of it. Disappointing not to get the 3 points but I suppose Almeria do have a new manager so they had a point to prove. Good to see Nilmar scoring, 15 goals for the season and I’ll be happy
Nick, you’re probably better off just watching highlights of this one. No, we didn’t deserve to win. I think a draw was a fair result. Almeria was a dangerous opponent today. New manager, new motivation…….dangerous combo for any team.
I need to correct something I said during the game. Santi became a daddy on Dec. 31 to a little boy they named Enzo. Congratulations to the Cazorla family!
Watched the highltights there, great play by Cazorla for our goal but a needless mistake and foul by Marcano for their penalty, perhaps left back would be his strongest position. Still, we haven’t lost in a while so thats a positive considering our start to the season. I like the pressure style football that we re playing and I think if we can connect a little bit more up front and tighten it up a tiny bit at the back then we will be back to our best. Defence is so important in La Liga, it’s a league with so many bad defences so it generally means if you can keep it tight then you will be near the top ( see Deportivo)
RECAP -> Villarreal 1 – Almeria 1
Villarreal
4-4-2
López
Angel, Godin, Marcano, Capdevila
Pires (Cani 67″), Senna, Bruno, Cazorla (Fuster 81″)
Nilmar (Llorente 67″), Rossi [/center]
Goals:
1-0 Nilmar @ 40″ (Assist Cazorla)
1-1 Corona @ 66″ (P.k)
Yellow Cards:
Villarreal -> Marcano 36″ & 82″, Senna 60″, Fuster 89″
Alemeria -> Mbami 27″, Ortiz 80″
Red Cards:
Villarreal -> Marcano 82″ (for 2nd yellow)
Almeria -> None
Almeria (4-2-3-1): Alves; Ortiz, Acasiete, Pellerano, Cisma; Mbami (Nieto 65″), Bernardello;
Corona, Soriano, Crusat (Goitom 57″); Piatti
Injury update for Celt game on Tuesday:
1) Gonzalo still out
2) Cazorla is having Abductor problem/issue w/his right leg/thing…..that’s why he was subbed ….
3) Cani has some sort of issue
4) Angel…….Right shoulder is hurting from the trama he took…
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If I were Valverde and if he is going to use Ibagagza since Cazorla and Cani are probably
doubtful of the tuesday game, the I would use Ibagaza on LW,,,that’s were he does best …not in the middle. especially is faster paced Valverde style….
I agree with NicK on the Defense………and that’s why is important Villarreal seriously spend monies to get a very good CF to pair w/Godin…..
Marcano may be become good, but he makes 1 stupid mistake a game……….and usually cost a goal…. or a near goal…
I don’t think Gonzalo will be back to his old form…………..
Full time Huesca 0 – 1 Villarreal B
Goal 0-1 Joan Tomás, pen. (19′)
Great win for the B team:
http://www.marca.com/2010/01/10/futbol/2adivision/1263150618.html
A very contested game with 3 annulled goals and many, many offsides, but that’s what is to be expected at this level. B team moves to 7-6-6, 27 points. That’s a comfortable 8 points from the drop zone and only 5 from 3rd place Numancia, whom they face at home next Sunday. Joan Tomas’ penalty on a clear handball was the difference.
And I don’t have much to say about the A team. Ugly game on both sides. We got the goal our play merited, and Rossi should have put the match away in the 2nd half. You had a feeling this one would turn out badly once it kept going at 1-0…
Marcano was lucky to stay in the match as long as he did, but really Almeria didn’t trouble us until that one Piatti shot and then the penalty. After that, however, it was all downhill. Llorente almost nicked it at the death but was unlucky.
Also, the DirecTV commentators agreed that Nilmar and Rossi should not be on the pitch together. Too similar, and Rossi seems to get a bit lost. When will Ruben come up from the B team and Llorente start playing more regularly?
^ I really don’t understand (maybe it’s pressure from Mgmt) why Llorente & Rossi didn’t start if you going to play 4–4-2 @ home……… They have play better together……….. (Are not similar and don’t run into each other positions, space; like Nilmar & Rossi do)
e,g game vs .Valladolid , Racing, Celta
——————————————–A to your Q Sid
-> I was shocked Llorente went to back burner , after he was doing well before the break……………… the formula @ home was working w/ Rossi & Llorente…….
why break it?
Llorente got pushed for Nilmar // I think because there is pressure to play .. Big Signing , etc….
-> Re: Ruben -> I don’t see him coming to Villarreal A, unless Llorente or Rossi are sold.
Basically with the away 4/5/1 formation Valverde is using on away games, Villarreal only need 3 fwds + Fuster.
Anyway………….. VILLARREAL Midfield has to start to create more chances for Forwards if they want to be competetive this season………and complete the passes…
too many passes were misplaced…
You know what….I noticed something…when Senna has a off game, Villarreal don’t do well…………………………..
Barca, Real MAdrid , Ath Madrid, Valencia, Etc……….. midfields create plenty of chances for their fwds to put goals away.
Only Cazorla showed up for this game, while others, Senna, Bruno & Pires were flat.
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Maddi………………
Thanks for letting me post here …. over the year…
But I am bored with recent Low /Expectation of Villarreal MGMT & Valverde..
Unlike some, I don’t blame the players for the so-so season so far.
I peg it to Valverde who has confused the crap out of the players in Hand……
e,g Play Llorente than just drop him. etc…
I was more impressed with Alemeria New Mgr than Valveder, he oozzed confidence even when losing and his players responded well.
When I look at Valverde, he doesn’t show any confidence and the games of Villarreal reflect …that …
ANYWAY…………I don’t want bore you or your readers from more of my rants , especially since you got the Penya drive going ….so I will give y’all a break………
best wishes with teh Penya Drive
Time for me to take a break ..from here…..ciao ciao … adios
P.S you can catch me @ BS forum…..
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@kqql. sorry u be not posting here. i think ur prospective is useful. as causal fan of vcf, imo da new coach isn’t bad, but not da good motivator vcf needs. i find da author maddai fair & niki neutral, but sid i think bashes the players more than da new coach. it’s clear 2 a neutral fans da vcf is struggling u/new mgr & that remains da fact. don’t b fooled by da
tie @ barca. da barca was not in form in da 1st 2 games. da season will b a struggle
@jackson: i take that as a compliment :) . i think it’s our role as commentators to not just be cheerleaders, though i enjoy our victories as much as anyone.
i agree that valverde is implementing a new system, and we didn’t need to change all that much considering the success under pellegrini. but i’d argue that our team was very dependent on a few players in the old system, not as much now. we’ve seen fuster come out of nowhere, escudero play well (even though he’s now in the doghouse), a number of B teamers get a chance, and so forth. and all of that with senna and cazorla hurt.
now the results are not where they need to be, but it takes time after years of pellegrini to learn a new system and style. and considering our need to sell players and cut expenses, interchangeable parts will be more important than ever for the long-term success of villarreal cf. and i think we all can agree that’s most important.
hope to hear more of your viewpoints on this topic.
@sidarth. fact remains da new coach isn’t bad, but not da good motivator . y else do u think some coaches do well & some not so well. confidence & motivator will always outclass da tactic only coach, which i think valverde is.
@jackson: agreed, he doesn’t seem to have a feel for the squad. i’d still give him some time though.
[...] we are all understandably down after three extremely lackluster matches (@Celta 1-1, Almeria 1-1, Celta 0-1). The season is in serious jeopardy after the Copa bow-out, and Villarreal’s [...]